Mark 15
Lexham English Bible
Jesus Taken to Pilate
15 And as soon as morning came, after[a] formulating a plan, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin, tied up Jesus, led him[b] away, and handed him[c] over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and[d] said, “You say so.” 3 And the chief priests began to accuse[e] him of many things. 4 So Pilate asked him again, saying, “Do you not answer anything? See how many charges[f] they are bringing against you!” 5 But Jesus did not answer anything further, so that Pilate was astonished.
Pilate Releases Barabbas
6 Now at each feast he customarily released[g] for them one prisoner whom they requested. 7 And the one named Barabbas[h] was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 And the crowd came up and[i] began to ask him to do as he customarily did[j] for them. 9 So Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 10 (For he realized that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.) 11 But the chief priests incited the crowd so that he would release for them Barabbas[k] instead. 12 So Pilate answered and said to them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one whom you call the king of the Jews?” 13 And they shouted again, “Crucify him!” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
15 So Pilate, because he[l] wanted to satisfy[m] the crowd, released for them Barabbas. And after[n] he had Jesus flogged, he handed him[o] over so that he could be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
16 So the soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort. 17 And they put a purple cloak on him, and after[p] weaving a crown of thorns they placed it[q] on him. 18 And they began to greet him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 And they repeatedly struck[r] him on the head with a reed, and were spitting on him, and they knelt down[s] and[t] did obeisance to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes[u] on him, and they led him out so that they could crucify him.
Jesus Is Crucified
21 And they forced a certain man who was passing by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), who was coming from the country, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place Golgotha (which is translated “Place of a Skull”). 23 And they attempted to give[v] him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves[w] by[x] casting lots for them to see who should take what. 25 Now it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him was written, “The king of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.[y] 29 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it[z] in three days, 30 save yourself by[aa] coming down from the cross!” 31 In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes, were mocking him[ab] to one another, saying, “He saved others; he is not able to save himself! 32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe! Even those who were crucified with him were reviling him.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
33 And when[ac] the sixth hour came, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which is translated, “My God, my God, why[ad] have you forsaken me?”)[ae] 35 And some of the bystanders, when they[af] heard it,[ag] said, “Behold, he is summoning Elijah!” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it[ah] on a reed, and[ai] gave it[aj] to him to drink, saying, “Leave him[ak] alone! Let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down.” 37 But Jesus uttered a loud cry and[al] expired. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when[am] the centurion who was standing opposite him saw that he expired like this, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 40 And there were also women observing from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger[an] and Joses,[ao] and Salome, 41 who used to follow[ap] him and serve him when he was in Galilee, and many other women who went up with him to Jerusalem.
Jesus Is Buried
42 And when it[aq] was already evening, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council who was also himself looking forward to[ar] the kingdom of God, came acting courageously and[as] went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate was surprised that he was already dead, and summoning the centurion, asked him whether he had died already. 45 And when he[at] learned of it[au] from the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And after[av] purchasing a linen cloth and[aw] taking him down, he wrapped him[ax] in the linen cloth and placed him in a tomb that had been cut from the rock. And he rolled a stone over the entrance of the tomb. 47 Now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was placed.
Footnotes
- Mark 15:1 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“formulating”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:1 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:1 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Mark 15:3 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to accuse”)
- Mark 15:4 The word “charges” is not in the Greek text but is implied
- Mark 15:6 The imperfect tense has been translated as customary here (“customarily released”)
- Mark 15:7 “Barabbas” means “son of the father” in Aramaic
- Mark 15:8 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Mark 15:8 The imperfect tense has been translated as customary here (“customarily did”)
- Mark 15:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Mark 15:15 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
- Mark 15:15 Literally “to make sufficient”
- Mark 15:15 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“flogged”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:15 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:17 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“weaving”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:17 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:19 The imperfect tense has been translated as iterative here (“repeatedly struck”)
- Mark 15:19 Literally “bending the knees”
- Mark 15:19 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“knelt down”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Mark 15:20 Some manuscripts have “his clothes” in place of “his own clothes”
- Mark 15:23 Here the imperfect tense is translated as a conative imperfect (“attempted to give”)
- Mark 15:24 Here “among themselves” reflects the middle voice of the verb “divided”
- Mark 15:24 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“casting”) which is understood as means
- Mark 15:27 Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 28 (a quotation from Isa 53:12) after v. 27, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘And he was counted with the lawless ones’”
- Mark 15:29 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:30 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“coming down”) which is understood as means
- Mark 15:31 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came”)
- Mark 15:34 Literally “for what reason”
- Mark 15:34 A quotation from Ps 22:1
- Mark 15:35 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:35 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:36 Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“ran” and “filled”) have been translated as finite verbs
- Mark 15:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:37 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“uttered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Mark 15:39 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:40 Or perhaps “the short,” referring to stature
- Mark 15:40 This name appears in Matt 27:56 as “Joseph”
- Mark 15:41 The imperfect tense has been translated as customary here (“used to follow”)
- Mark 15:42 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Mark 15:43 Or “waiting for”
- Mark 15:43 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Mark 15:45 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned of”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:45 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Mark 15:46 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“purchasing”) which is understood as temporal
- Mark 15:46 Here “and” is supplied because the participle (“taking...down”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
- Mark 15:46 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
Mark 15
The Voice
15 When morning came, the chief priests met in council with all the Jewish leaders. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and turned Him over to the Roman governor, Pilate.
Pilate (after hearing them): 2 Are You the King of the Jews?
Jesus: You have said so.
3 The chief priests went on to accuse Jesus of many things, but Jesus simply stood quietly.
Pilate: 4 Do You have anything to say? How do You respond to all these charges that have been made against You?
5 But Jesus said nothing more, and Pilate was astonished.
6 Now it was his custom at that feast that Pilate should release one prisoner from custody, whomever the people most desired. 7 There was one rebel from those imprisoned for insurrection against the Roman occupation. He had committed murder during an uprising. His name was Barabbas. 8 A crowd had gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment seat to request that Pilate follow his usual custom.
9 Pilate turned to them.
Pilate: Why don’t I release to you the King of the Jews?
10 He knew that the chief priests had delivered Jesus because they were threatened by Him, not because Jesus was a criminal.
11 But priests moved among the crowd and persuaded them to call for Barabbas instead.
Pilate: 12 Then what do you want me to do with the King of the Jews?
Crowd: 13 Crucify Him, crucify Him!
14 But now he called to them.
Pilate: Why? What has He done to deserve such a sentence?
Crowd (crying all the louder): Crucify Him, crucify Him!
Barabbas is an active and a militant Jewish leader. In one sense, the choice that the crowd is offered—to have either Jesus or Barabbas released—can be seen as a choice between two types of revolutions. Do they want a revolution of power, a revolution that is easily visible, a revolution that will conquer their enemies in a way they can understand? Or do they want a revolution of healing, a revolution of love, a revolution that will bring the kingdom of God to earth in a mystical, transcendental way? It’s no wonder they make the choice they do. Who wants a gentle revolution in a time of war?
15 When Pilate saw that he could not persuade the crowd to change its mind, he released Barabbas to them and had Jesus publicly whipped, which was the normal prelude to crucifixion. Then he had Jesus led away to be crucified. 16 The soldiers took Him into the headquarters of the governor; and the rest of the soldiers in the detachment gathered there, hundreds of them. 17 They put a purple robe on Him and made a crown of thorns that they forced onto His head, 18 and they began to cry out in mock salute.
Soldiers: Hail to the King of the Jews!
19 For a long while they beat Him on the head with a reed, spat upon Him, and knelt down as if to honor Him. 20 When they had finished mocking Him, they stripped off His purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they took Him away to be executed.
21 Along the way, they met a man from Cyrene, Simon (the father of Rufus and Alexander), who was coming in from the fields; and they ordered him to carry the heavy crossbar of the cross. 22 And so they came at last to the execution site, a hill called Golgotha, which means the “Place of a Skull.”
23 The soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to dull His pain, but He refused it. 24 And so they crucified Him, divided up His clothes, and cast lots (an ancient equivalent of rolling dice) to see who would keep the clothes they had stripped from Him.
25 His crucifixion began about nine o’clock in the morning. 26 Over His head hung a sign that indicated the charge for which He was being crucified. It read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27 On either side of Him were two insurgents who also had received the death penalty. [28 And the Hebrew Scripture was completed that said, “He was considered just another criminal.”][a]
29 Those passing by on their way into or out of Jerusalem insulted and ridiculed Him.
Some in the Crowd: So You’re the One who was going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days? 30 Well, if You’re so powerful, then why don’t You rescue Yourself? Come on down from the cross!
Chief Priests and Scribes (mocking Jesus among themselves): 31 He rescued others, but He can’t rescue Himself. 32 Let the Anointed—the King of Israel—come down from the cross now, and we will see it and believe.
Even the insurgents who were being crucified next to Him taunted Him and reviled Him.
33 At noon, the day suddenly darkened for three hours across the entire land. 34 Sometime around three o’clock Jesus called out in a loud voice.
Jesus: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
Jesus was speaking, as in the psalms, “My God, My God, why have You turned Your back on Me?”[b]
35 Some of those standing nearby misunderstood Him.
Bystanders: Hey, He’s calling for Elijah.
36 One of them filled a sponge with wine that had turned to vinegar and lifted it to Jesus’ lips on a stick so He could drink.
Bystander: Let’s see if Elijah will come to take Him down.
37 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and He took His last breath.
38 At that moment, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
The tearing of the temple veil is a picture of what Jesus’ death has accomplished. The temple sanctuary is divided into two sections: the holy place and the most holy place. The most holy place is a chamber so sanctified that only the high priest can enter—and then only once a year. There God’s presence is manifest on earth.
A long curtain divides the two areas, and at the moment of Jesus’ death it is torn in two. The veil that serves as a means to protect everyone but the high priest from the power of God’s presence is no longer needed because Jesus, on account of His sacrificial death, gives everyone access to God. Only God Himself can rip the curtain in two “from top to bottom,” opening the way for people to come into His presence.
39 The Roman Centurion, the soldier in charge of the executions, stood in front of Jesus, [heard His words,][c] and saw the manner of His death.
Centurion: Surely this man was the Son of God!
40 Off in the distance, away from the crowds, stood some women who knew and had followed Jesus, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of the younger James, Joses, and Salome. 41 These were women who used to care for Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who had followed Jesus to Jerusalem joined them.
42 Evening came. The crucifixion had taken place on preparation day, Friday, before the Jewish Sabbath began at sundown. 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the ruling council who was also a believer anxiously waiting for the kingdom of God, went to Pilate and boldly asked for the body of Jesus.
44 Pilate could not believe Jesus was already dead, so he sent for the Centurion, 45 who confirmed it. Then Pilate gave Joseph permission to take the body.
46 Joseph had the body wrapped in a linen burial cloth he had purchased and laid Him in a tomb that had been carved out of rock. Then he had a stone rolled over the opening to seal it. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching as the body was interred.
Footnotes
- 15:28 Some manuscripts omit verse 28, a quote from Isaiah 53:12.
- 15:34 Psalm 22:1
- 15:39 Some early manuscripts omit this portion.
Mark 15
King James Version
15 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King Of The Jews.
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
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